Best Caribbean Beaches

The more than 7,000 islands, cays and volcano-fringed coves of the Caribbean are sprinkled across the azure seas like so many glittering diamonds. And when it comes to finding an idyllic stretch of sand all your own, the Caribbean has more than its share of breathtaking beaches.

Here are a few of our favorites, custom picked for beach lovers who know that the perfect mix of sea, sun and sand is indeed a very fine -- and, often, powdery white -- balance.

1. Saline Beach

The rich and beautiful and other seekers of posh tropical leisure have long been lured to St. Barts, a tiny, V-shaped island that barely pushes 8 square miles in size. Saline Beach, on the southern coast, is the island's most beautiful and secluded slice of paradise. The horseshoe-shaped swath of sand is located a couple miles from Gustavia (St. Barts' main village). From the parking lot, you'll have to hike 10 minutes over a dune to reach the beach here, but it's worth the effort. And while nude bathing isn't officially allowed, many folks cool off au naturel (turn left when you arrive at the beach if you want to hang with more covered-up beachgoers).

EAT: Gustavia's cuisine scene is renowned, and fabulous French fare abounds. One of the best spots to toast your privileged self at sunset is Maya's Restaurant (on the beach, just northwest of Gustavia), famed for fabulous French Creole cuisine in romantic surrounds.

2. Englishman's Bay

Half of the dual-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, the latter island is the least developed and tiniest, and home to one of the most dream-inducing beaches in the Caribbean. The beach at Englishman's Bay, on the leeward side of Tobago, is buffered by verdant headlands that cradle a U-shaped beach stretching about a mile. On the southern end of the strand, a freshwater stream flows from the island's lush rainforest interior to the sea. And just offshore, brilliant coral reefs ripple with tropical fish. There are no official facilities here, apart from a small snack cart run by a local. But when it comes to finding a secluded spot to lay out your towel, few beaches can compare to Englishman's Bay.

3. Pink Beach

Situated in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean is a pretty pair -- Antigua and Barbuda. The latter island is so undeveloped you could almost call it ‘paradise lost’. But for beach lovers looking to lounge seaside in an otherworldly locale, Barbuda is most definitely paradise found. Apart from all-inclusive resorts and sublime beaches, there's little else on the island. But when sandy perfection is your prime demand, Barbuda delivers. Visitors reach the island by plane or boat from nearby Antigua, which lies 27 miles to the south of Barbuda. The reward when you step onto the silky sand at Pink Beach -- Barbuda's centerpiece beach, located a few miles south of the island's main village, Codrington -- is instantaneous. Nearly 8 miles of deserted oceanfront stretches from Spanish Point to Palmetto Point, and the snorkeling is fabulous. The champagne color of the sand glows rose thanks to the crushed coral in the mix. And it's possible to stroll along the beach for miles without seeing another soul. As if the natural lure of the beach wasn't enough, Barbuda is also home to the Caribbean's largest nesting colony of frigate birds, which you can visit by boat.

EAT: Barbudan lobster with butter and lime sauce at The Beach House is a culinary must.

STAY: Set on its own peninsula, Coco Point Lodge is one of those died-and-went-to-heaven oceanfront resorts that charges an arm and a leg for extreme luxury and paradise delivered to your door.

4. Anse Chastanet

There are times when the price of beach perfection is higher than others, and this is one of them. Think of the mysterious peaks of Tahiti, transported to the Caribbean -- such is the exotic lure of the spiky Piton Mountains surrounding this unbelievable beach on St. Lucia's southwestern coast. The beach at Anse Chastanet stuns with intense tropical beauty. Technicolor green jungle-clad mountains in the distance form a sharp contrast to the dark sand beach and bright white villas dotting the cliffs.

EAT: Carrot and coconut soup and grilled dorado are on the indulgent menu at Nick Troubetzkoy's Anse Chastanet resort.

5. Tintamarre Island

Beach connoisseurs are enamored by the beautiful mountain-coddled coves of St. Martin. But if you're willing to go the distance for a more isolated beach experience, arrange a day-trip aboard a catamaran to the island of Tintamarre, situated about 5 miles off St. Martin's north coast.

You'll feel like Robinson Crusoe on the island's deserted beaches lapped by clear blue water. And iron-rich clay, found in the coves here, inspires beachgoers to strip down for spontaneous mud baths (just rinse in the ocean afterward to complete the holistic experience). Part of the Natural Reserve of Saint Martin, development is prohibited on Tintamarre, so there are no lodging and dining facilities.